diff --git a/hosts/palladium/backup-scripts.nix b/hosts/palladium/backup-scripts.nix
index b2a8f56..b2ccfdf 100644
--- a/hosts/palladium/backup-scripts.nix
+++ b/hosts/palladium/backup-scripts.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@ let
   ${pkgs.cryptsetup}/bin/cryptsetup luksOpen ''${DEVICE} external-drive
   mkdir -p /mnt/external-drive
   mount /dev/mapper/external-drive /mnt/external-drive
+
+  mkdir -p /mnt/external-drive/clerie-backup
+  chown borg:borg -R /mnt/external-drive/clerie-backup
   '';
 
   cb-unmount = pkgs.writeScriptBin "cb-unmount" ''
diff --git a/hosts/palladium/configuration.nix b/hosts/palladium/configuration.nix
index 20c24e1..41d9e16 100644
--- a/hosts/palladium/configuration.nix
+++ b/hosts/palladium/configuration.nix
@@ -41,6 +41,12 @@
     };
   };
 
+  # Disable automatic directory creation for external-drive repo
+  # The directory gets created by the disk formatting script
+  # Correct permissons will be set right after mounting
+  # This prevents borg from filling up the root drive when no drive is mounted
+  systemd.services.borgbackup-repo-external-drive.enable = false;
+
   clerie.monitoring = {
     enable = true;
     id = "206";